Children's home run by Reflexion Care Group Limited in Shropshire

This inspection

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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This inspection

This home was judged Outstanding at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness.

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This inspection

Young people continue to make excellent progress. A young person said: ‘Living here has made a big difference to my life. Before I never went to school and I was in with a bad crowd. Now I have a good group of friends and I am on target to pass my GCSEs. I am so much happier and could not have achieved all I have without the staff pushing me along.’ A social worker commented in respect of a young person: ‘She has made amazing progress in all aspects of her development. From an emotional point of view she has made giant leaps and academically she has gone up two levels.’ Consequently, young people’s life chances significantly improve.

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This inspection

Young people speak extremely positively about their experiences and most significantly about their positive relationships with staff. One young person said: ‘The staff know me so well. They know when I am upset without me having to say anything and they make me feel better.’ Another commented: ‘The staff make me laugh and give me a cuddle when I am upset. They make sure I go to school every day and to all my appointments. They just care and want the best for me.’ Professionals also speak favourably about the quality of care provided. A social worker said: ‘This young person feels very safe as a result of very consistent routines and boundaries. She is thriving as a result of the structure, routines and the very nurturing and emotionally warm environment provided by staff.’ Young people are provided with the stability and security that they need and deserve.

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This inspection

Coordinated working practices between care staff, parents, educational professionals and therapists are effective. A social worker said: ‘There is very good joined up working as a result of regular multi-agency core group meetings. This ensures consistency of care.’ Such coordinated approaches also ensure that young people receive the correct support to meet their individual needs.

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This inspection

Young people feel safe and they are so much safer as a result of robust safeguarding strategies and the help and support they receive from staff. For example, in relation to incidents of young people going missing, these are infrequent, and for some young people such behaviours stop completely. A parent said: ‘Before living here my daughter always ran away and did not care about herself. Staff have helped her understand risk and how to keep herself safe. Now she never runs away and she cares about her personal safety.’ Positive relationships and good work undertaken in respect of the dangers of going missing and child sexual exploitation are significant protective and preventative factors which help ensure safety in this area.

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This inspection

Very good support provided to older young people helps them prepare well for adulthood. They develop practical life and independence skills. As well as this, staff help them to develop emotional resilience, while at the same time ensuring that educational achievement remains a priority. A young person said: ‘The future is now looking good. I have become responsible, I have free time, I am learning independence skills and I am planning on going to college next year.’ Young people develop skills, aspirations and confidence, which will serve them well when they move on to the next stage of their lives.

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This inspection

Robust pre-placement matching assessments and careful transition planning gives new young people moving into the home the best opportunity to settle. However, when on one occasion external factors, beyond the manager and staffs control, resulted in difficult dynamics developing between peers, the manager took prompt action to resolve this. Using her reflective skills and by carefully balancing the complex needs of each young person, the manager effectively minimised any impact on each of them and established the best possible resolution and outcome for them all.

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This inspection

Monitoring and quality assurance systems are comprehensive. This, alongside the passion and enthusiasm of the manager and the dedication of an established, caring and skilled staff team, ensures that the quality of the service and outcomes for young people continue to be outstanding.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is run by a private company and is registered to accommodate a maximum of three children or young people. They may have emotional and / or behavioural difficulties and / or learning disabilities. 

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

18/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

23/01/2014 Interim Satisfactory Progress

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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